gaz2810i
Prominent Member
***I incorrectly placed a similar thread in the Gallery thread so apologies for doubling up on the thread ***
Right, This is probably asking a lot, but if you guys can help me improve my set-up, even a little bit, I would be eternally grateful.
I am currently in the process of reassessing my Home entertainment system and I was looking for advice on how best to connect all my equipment. I will list all my equipment with links to their specs at the bottom. Up till now I have really just played the scatter-gun approach, connecting everything via what I thought was the best input into either the receiver or the TV However, I now have more HDMI enabled equipment than I have inputs and with the installation of 7.1 in my living I just don't know what are the best play-offs when connecting everything. To top it all of, I now have 3 games consoles, 3 HD DVD players, 2 Blu-ray players and 2 cable boxes and would like one of each of the rooms, however, which ones should I choice to go where? Some are easy choices, others not so, hence why I am asking? How would you guys connect up all this and where?
Kit List
Room room (Living room):
Pioneer PDP-427XD 1080i plasma capable of 1080/24P
2 x HDMI, 1 x component, 1 x S-video, 1 x RCA A/V, 3 x Euro-SCART, 1x PC
PioneerVSX-AX2AV-S
Only HDMi 1.1, accepts sound via HDMi but does not offer 1080P or 1080/24 support. 7.1 with speakers connected
HDMI Input/Output 2/1
Multi-Channel Input 7.1 ch
IR In/Out Yes
Digital Audio Input 7
Digital Coaxial Input 2
Digital Optical Input 5 (includes Front In)
Digital Audio Output (Optical) 1 (Rec Out/Room3)
RCA Audio/Video Inputs 3 A / 7 AV
Audio/Video Output 1 A / 2 AV + 1 V
Phono Input Yes
S-Video Input/Output 5/2 (includes Front In, assignable)
Component Video Input/Output 3/1 (assignable)
Composite Input/Output 7/4
Samsung SMT-H3110 V+HD (Will become Tivo when launched)
1 x HDMI, 2 x SCART (TV, VCR), 1 x S/PDIF (Optical), 1 x Ethernet
Mission MX1 Fronts
Mission M30i Cinema 5.1 Speaker set Used as a 7.1 package with the MX1's and set up as below.
Mission M30i Surrounds x 4 (surround and rears)
Mission M3C1 (Centre)
Mission MS 8 (Subwoofer)
Nintendo Wii
Original launch day model - I have both official component and composite cables
Virgin Media super hub 50mg BB Router and modem
Wireless 'N', 4 x Ethernet ports
Second room (Bedroom):
Panasonic 26LXD70 1080i, capable of recieving a 1080p signal and downconverting.
2x HDMI,
2x Scart, S-video,
1x component video,
1x PC input.
SMT-2110C V Box (Will become the Samsung V+HD box when TiVo is launched.
Can go anywhere:
XBOX 360 original model without HDMI not sure what the top resolution output is
1x Component Video Output, 1x Optical, 1 x Ethernet
Playstation 3 250gb Slim 1080/24p
HDMI OUT x 1; AV MULTI OUT connector x 1; Digital out (optical) connector x 1; Ethernet x 1 (wireless)
Sony BDP-S350 1080p
1x HDMI™, 1x Component Video Output, 1x S-Video Output,1 x Composite Video Output
1x Coaxial, 1x Optical, 1x Analogue Stereo Output,1x Ethernet
Toshiba HD-EX1
HDMI out (with up to 1080P and 1080/24 HD upconversion video out & multi-channel audio out)
Component Video out (3 x RCA/phono) (with up to 1080i HD upconversion)
S-Video (4 pin mini-din)
Composite Video (1 x RCA/phono)
RJ45 LAN Port for Internet connection via network (for Firmware upgrade and advanced HD-DVD functionality)
Coaxial (RCA/phono) & optical (toslink)
Stereo line out (2 x RCA/phono)
5.1 Analogue decoded line output
Toshiba HD-E1
HDMI out (with up to 1080i HD upconversion video out & multi-channel audio out)
Component Video out (3 x RCA/phono) (with up to 1080i HD upconversion)
S-Video (4 pin mini-din)
Composite Video (1 x RCA/phono)
RJ45 LAN Port for Internet connection via network (for Firmware upgrade and advanced HD-DVD functionality)
Optical (toslink) digital output
Stereo line out (2 x RCA/phono)
Toshiba HD-EP30
HDMI out (with up to 1080/24p HD video upconversion & multi-channel audio out)
Component video out (via 3 x RCA/phono) (with up to 1080i HD upconversion)
S-Video out (via 4 pin mini-DIN
Composite video (via 1 x RCA/phono)
RJ45 Ethernet Port for Internet connection via network (for firmware upgrade and advanced HD-DVD functionality)
Expansion terminal (for connectivity with future devices)
Optical (via toslink)
Stereo line out (via 2 x RCA/phono)
Pioneer DVR-520HHDD and DVD recorder
Input
1 SCART (AV connector2)
RGB Input via Euro-SCART
1 RCA (Audio/Video) (front: 1)
1 S-Video (front: 1)
Output
1 SCART (AV connector 1)
RGB Output via Euro-SCART
1 RCA (Audio/Video)
1 S-Video
Optical Digital Audio
Panasonic NV-HS880BS
Scart 1: (S-Video, composite video and stereo audio in and out)
Scart 2: (composite video and stereo audio in), antenna in and out, stereo out via 2 x RCA/phono socket
Front S-Video, composite video and stereo audio in
Apple MACBOOK PRO i7
Western Digital Mybook for mac 1tb drive
Anyway, any advice on how best to connect these components and by which connections, i.e to amp via HDMI or to TV via Component would be much appreciated. It would also be great to know why it was one connection over another, for example why the HD-EX1 to the Amp via anologues over HDMI for sound.
It would also be handy to know if there are any logical improvements and upgrades I could make. I am lacking in funds but If I need it the heh, it can be sorted
Many thanks in advance, I will post some pics later
Right, This is probably asking a lot, but if you guys can help me improve my set-up, even a little bit, I would be eternally grateful.
I am currently in the process of reassessing my Home entertainment system and I was looking for advice on how best to connect all my equipment. I will list all my equipment with links to their specs at the bottom. Up till now I have really just played the scatter-gun approach, connecting everything via what I thought was the best input into either the receiver or the TV However, I now have more HDMI enabled equipment than I have inputs and with the installation of 7.1 in my living I just don't know what are the best play-offs when connecting everything. To top it all of, I now have 3 games consoles, 3 HD DVD players, 2 Blu-ray players and 2 cable boxes and would like one of each of the rooms, however, which ones should I choice to go where? Some are easy choices, others not so, hence why I am asking? How would you guys connect up all this and where?
Kit List
Room room (Living room):
Pioneer PDP-427XD 1080i plasma capable of 1080/24P
2 x HDMI, 1 x component, 1 x S-video, 1 x RCA A/V, 3 x Euro-SCART, 1x PC
PioneerVSX-AX2AV-S
Only HDMi 1.1, accepts sound via HDMi but does not offer 1080P or 1080/24 support. 7.1 with speakers connected
HDMI Input/Output 2/1
Multi-Channel Input 7.1 ch
IR In/Out Yes
Digital Audio Input 7
Digital Coaxial Input 2
Digital Optical Input 5 (includes Front In)
Digital Audio Output (Optical) 1 (Rec Out/Room3)
RCA Audio/Video Inputs 3 A / 7 AV
Audio/Video Output 1 A / 2 AV + 1 V
Phono Input Yes
S-Video Input/Output 5/2 (includes Front In, assignable)
Component Video Input/Output 3/1 (assignable)
Composite Input/Output 7/4
Samsung SMT-H3110 V+HD (Will become Tivo when launched)
1 x HDMI, 2 x SCART (TV, VCR), 1 x S/PDIF (Optical), 1 x Ethernet
Mission MX1 Fronts
Mission M30i Cinema 5.1 Speaker set Used as a 7.1 package with the MX1's and set up as below.
Mission M30i Surrounds x 4 (surround and rears)
Mission M3C1 (Centre)
Mission MS 8 (Subwoofer)
Nintendo Wii
Original launch day model - I have both official component and composite cables
Virgin Media super hub 50mg BB Router and modem
Wireless 'N', 4 x Ethernet ports
Second room (Bedroom):
Panasonic 26LXD70 1080i, capable of recieving a 1080p signal and downconverting.
2x HDMI,
2x Scart, S-video,
1x component video,
1x PC input.
SMT-2110C V Box (Will become the Samsung V+HD box when TiVo is launched.
Can go anywhere:
XBOX 360 original model without HDMI not sure what the top resolution output is
1x Component Video Output, 1x Optical, 1 x Ethernet
Playstation 3 250gb Slim 1080/24p
HDMI OUT x 1; AV MULTI OUT connector x 1; Digital out (optical) connector x 1; Ethernet x 1 (wireless)
Sony BDP-S350 1080p
1x HDMI™, 1x Component Video Output, 1x S-Video Output,1 x Composite Video Output
1x Coaxial, 1x Optical, 1x Analogue Stereo Output,1x Ethernet
Toshiba HD-EX1
HDMI out (with up to 1080P and 1080/24 HD upconversion video out & multi-channel audio out)
Component Video out (3 x RCA/phono) (with up to 1080i HD upconversion)
S-Video (4 pin mini-din)
Composite Video (1 x RCA/phono)
RJ45 LAN Port for Internet connection via network (for Firmware upgrade and advanced HD-DVD functionality)
Coaxial (RCA/phono) & optical (toslink)
Stereo line out (2 x RCA/phono)
5.1 Analogue decoded line output
Toshiba HD-E1
HDMI out (with up to 1080i HD upconversion video out & multi-channel audio out)
Component Video out (3 x RCA/phono) (with up to 1080i HD upconversion)
S-Video (4 pin mini-din)
Composite Video (1 x RCA/phono)
RJ45 LAN Port for Internet connection via network (for Firmware upgrade and advanced HD-DVD functionality)
Optical (toslink) digital output
Stereo line out (2 x RCA/phono)
Toshiba HD-EP30
HDMI out (with up to 1080/24p HD video upconversion & multi-channel audio out)
Component video out (via 3 x RCA/phono) (with up to 1080i HD upconversion)
S-Video out (via 4 pin mini-DIN
Composite video (via 1 x RCA/phono)
RJ45 Ethernet Port for Internet connection via network (for firmware upgrade and advanced HD-DVD functionality)
Expansion terminal (for connectivity with future devices)
Optical (via toslink)
Stereo line out (via 2 x RCA/phono)
Pioneer DVR-520HHDD and DVD recorder
Input
1 SCART (AV connector2)
RGB Input via Euro-SCART
1 RCA (Audio/Video) (front: 1)
1 S-Video (front: 1)
Output
1 SCART (AV connector 1)
RGB Output via Euro-SCART
1 RCA (Audio/Video)
1 S-Video
Optical Digital Audio
Panasonic NV-HS880BS
Scart 1: (S-Video, composite video and stereo audio in and out)
Scart 2: (composite video and stereo audio in), antenna in and out, stereo out via 2 x RCA/phono socket
Front S-Video, composite video and stereo audio in
Apple MACBOOK PRO i7
Western Digital Mybook for mac 1tb drive
Anyway, any advice on how best to connect these components and by which connections, i.e to amp via HDMI or to TV via Component would be much appreciated. It would also be great to know why it was one connection over another, for example why the HD-EX1 to the Amp via anologues over HDMI for sound.
It would also be handy to know if there are any logical improvements and upgrades I could make. I am lacking in funds but If I need it the heh, it can be sorted
Many thanks in advance, I will post some pics later
Last edited: